Millions of households in England will benefit from a £150 rebate on their council tax in the coming weeks. People living in houses in bands A to D are eligible for the one-time payment, which was introduced to help people struggling with the cost of living crisis.
Households have been stung so far this month by the energy price cap hike, council tax hikes and a hike in National Insurance to help fund social care . The government is under increasing pressure to support families struggling to pay their mounting bills.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the Council’s tax refund scheme in February this year, saying it would cover around 80% of homes in England. To be eligible for the £150 payment, you must live in a Band A to D property in England and it must be your main or only residence. Second homes and empty properties are not eligible.
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The government has established a legal obligation for all councils to make refunds to all eligible residents from April 2022 and by September 2022 at the latest. The Manchester Evening News has contacted each borough in Greater Manchester to find out when residents can expect to receive the funds. Here’s what they all said.
Bolt
Bolton Council will make payments in April and May for those paying by direct debit. But people who don’t pay by direct debit may have to wait longer.
A Bolton Council spokesperson said: “People who pay council tax by direct debit will automatically have the £150 paid into their bank account. We expect to make these payments in April and May 2022.
“For people who don’t pay by direct debit, we will be ready to process bank payments from May.”
Bury
Bury council will make payments to residents in April and May, according to a statement posted on its website. The statement adds: “Please be patient with us while we make payment arrangements. If we already have your bank details because you are paying your council tax by direct debit, we will use them. If we do not have your bank details , we will be in touch in the coming weeks.”
The council did not respond to a request for further information from the Manchester Evening News.
Manchester
People living in Manchester who are eligible for the discount and paying by direct debit should receive their payments from the week beginning April 18, Manchester City Council has said.
Residents who do not pay council tax by direct debit will be asked to apply shortly, the council added. These payments should be made from the week beginning April 25.
The council said anyone who cannot log in online will be supported to apply over the phone.
A spokesman for Manchester City Council told the Manchester Evening News: ‘The quickest and easiest way to claim reimbursement is to set up a master debit to pay council tax. However, a system will be in place for people who do not pay by direct debit – and help will be available for those who cannot claim online to telephone the Council and be supported through an assisted application process. This is a major exercise for the Council, but we are confident that anyone who wants to claim the £150 will be able to.”
Oldham
Oldham Council said eligible households paying council tax by direct debit will be the first to receive their payment. People who have set up a direct debit with the municipality will receive their payment from May 2022.
Payment will only be made after payment by direct debit of the first installment of council tax due for 2022/2023, the council said. The council encourages people to set up direct debit as a method of payment to speed up the process.
A spokesperson for Oldham Council said: ‘We look forward to issuing these vital payments as soon as possible as we know how important they will be for our residents in the current economic climate. However, we must follow the guidelines given to us so that we can verify that payments are made to the correct people in eligible households.
“We are also working on the necessary changes to our systems to allow these payments to be issued to payors by direct debit. We hope to be able to issue payments sooner than expected and residents should continue to check our website for more information on when they will receive their payment.
“All eligible households will receive their refund regardless of how they currently pay council tax, but we urge residents to sign up to pay by direct debit as it is a safe and reliable method. and will support the payment process for this reimbursement. ”
Rochedale
In Rochdale, residents who pay council tax by direct debit can expect to receive their payments in the month of their first council tax payment, Rochdale Council has said. Residents who do not pay by direct debit will be asked to apply for reimbursement later this month.
A spokesperson told the Manchester Evening News: ‘For residents who pay council tax by direct debit and whose first installment for 2022/23 is collected in April, we expect to start making payments during the week beginning April 25, 2022.
“For residents who pay council tax by direct debit and whose first installment for 2022/23 is collected in May, we expect to begin making payments during the week beginning May 9, 2022 with current payments. until May.
“For residents who are not paying council tax by direct debit, we expect to invite applications during the week beginning April 25, 2022, after which payments will begin to be made.”
The spokesperson added: “We have not yet started making payments but we do not anticipate any delays.”
Salford
According to Salford Council, residents who pay council tax by direct debit will receive their payment automatically after paying their April 2022 tax installment. Residents without a direct debit will receive a letter by early May 2022 asking them to request the discount.
The council did not provide further details, but said information could be found on its website. here.
Stockport
Stockport Council will send payments to residents from May 2022 if they pay by direct debit. Those who do not pay by direct debit may have to wait longer, but the town hall will contact the people concerned directly.
A Stockport Council spokesperson told the Manchester Evening News: “We aim to start issuing payments from May 2022, when the first direct debit payment of 2022/23 has been made. This is in line with government guidelines. Following the guidelines, we will issue payments to those who pay by direct debit first due to the convenience of this method of payment. Residents who do not pay by direct debit will be directed to a form on the Stockport Council website in due course.”
More information can be found here.
Tame
In Tameside, residents who pay council tax by direct debit can expect payments between April and May. For those not paying by direct debit, residents will need to apply for the discount. The council said it will make an application form available on its website “as soon as possible” for those affected.
A statement on Tameside Council’s website reads: ‘Central Government has said Council Tax Refund for Energy Payments is to be made between April and September 2022. Tameside Council will make all payments as soon as possible.”
The council did not respond to a request for further information from the Manchester Evening News.
Trafford
A statement on the Trafford Council website reads: “If you pay your April 2022 tax installment by direct debit, in most cases we will pay the £150 rebate directly to your bank account.
“If you are paying your April 2022 installment by another method, or if you do not have council tax to pay due to being exempt or receiving tax assistance from the council, we will arrange a other payment method and will announce it soon. We will update this page when we have the details.”
Wigan
Wigan residents who pay Council Tax by direct debit can expect payments around the end of April or early May, Wigan Council said, while residents who do not pay by direct debit will need to complete a application form in May.
Lesley O’Halloran, director of clientele and culture, told the Manchester Evening News: “In accordance with government guidelines on timing and eligibility for the scheme, Wigan residents who pay council tax by levy automatic will have the £150 Energy Rebate payment processed towards the end of April 2022 or the beginning of May 2022. We will contact residents to confirm that their payment has been processed, and we will also contact residents directly if we need more information .
“Residents not paying by direct debit will need to complete an application form to claim their £150.00 energy grant rebate. The application process will go live in May 2022 and payments will begin in June 2022 when all application details have been verified.
“We are working hard to ensure that payments reach our residents as soon as possible. We are developing an online application process, to help ensure that as many residents as possible receive their payment as quickly as possible. Our discretionary diet policy is currently being drafted and will be posted as it becomes available.”
Additional information about the scheme can be found here.
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